When the opposition player threw the ball in, Hayley and I pressed up on their ball carrier. I flicked the ball out of their possession and then passed to Hayley, who threw up a shot, which bounced off the ring, straight to me. This time Matilda had run up our end of the court and created a screen for me to shoot for another three-pointer that also went in.

We were six points in front with three minutes on the clock and the anticipation of winning with Mum and Nana watching was making me feel good. And then the opposition took the ball up the court and made a jump shot from outside of the three-point line directly in front of the hoop. It went in and I thought, Surely they can’t come back from here?

Ashley threw the ball back to Matilda who turned to bring it back down our end of the court, but one of the opposition’s fast players stole it off her and only needed to take a few steps to make a lay-up, sending their supporters into a frenzy. Again Ashley passed the ball into Matilda, who took a whole lot more care to bring it down the court safely. We all bolted back down the court and got into position. Matilda passed it off to Caroline, who immediately put up a shot as the opposition swarmed like bees around her. The ball bounced off the ring and again the other team got it, ran down the court and scored another three-pointer.

And then the buzzer went, and I was catching my breath and hanging my head in disappointment. I thought us winning was a sure thing and that was probably the main reason we lost the game. We were way too cocky.

The positive was that it was clear that I could hit a three-pointer when needed, and Mum and Nana were there to see it. It made losing a bit easier.

When I walked back over to the bench, Mum and Nana came over and gave me another hug. Caitlin came over too, said hi and kind of stood back.

After they’d told me how good a game I’d played, Mum said, ‘Got time for dinner, or at least coffee?’

I looked to Caitlin for permission. She nodded in a way that told me that it was up to me. I was keen to go so I said, ‘Can I go home and have a shower first?’

‘Of course,’ Mum said. ‘We can wait out the front of your place while you get ready?’

‘I can drop her to you,’ Caitlin offered. ‘Where are you eating?’

‘The pub, I guess,’ Mum said, which I don’t think Caitlin wanted to hear. I didn’t care that we were going to the pub that much because Nana was with us and I knew Mum wouldn’t get drunk in front of her.